Contour-cap for projectiles.



r H. H. c. DUNWOODY. CONTOUR CAP FO'R PROJECTILES.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 26. l9l5.

1,1 53,425. Patent-ed Sept. 14, 1915.

514 won boa [lam/:9 Z7. Gjhz/m-wcz 6 QONTOUPr-CAP FOR PROJECTILE$.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed July 26, 1915. Serial No. 42,010.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HENRY II. C. DUN- woonir, brigadier general, United States Army, retired, a citizen of the United States,

nature which will be entirely closed during firing so that no danger will exist of igniting the high explosive or other mateiral from the powder gases.

With these and other objects in view the invention consists in the novel details of construction and combinations of parts, more fully hereinafter disclosed and particularly pointed out in the claims.

Referring to the accompanying drawing forming apart of this specificatiomin which the figure is a diagrammatic partly sectional view of a projectile provided with my invention, 1 indicates the body portion of a projectile of any suitable size or shape, and 2 the forward or tapered portion of said projectile.

3 indicates a groove with which the projectile is provided and 4 a soft metal cap or other form. of point, which is preferably screw threaded as shown.

The contour cap 5 is provided with the usual flange or ring 6 fitting the groove 3 and is also provided at its extreme forward end with an orifice into which fits any suitable form of fuse 7.

In order to prevent the powder gases from leaking past the ring 6 and groove 3 and thereby entering the interior cavity of the cap 5, I provide said cap 5 with the inverted cup shaped closure 8 which may be conveniently welded, brazed or otherwise .secured to the cap 5 as at 9, and I further provide said closure 8 with a cup shaped extension 10 which is conveniently screw threaded and which fits over the soft steel cap 4 or other pointed end of the projectile 1.

Thecap 5 is thus entirely closed as tight, so that it is not possible for any gases to leak into its interior so long as the cap as a whole remains intact. On the other hand, by providing the flange 6 fitting the groove 3, and by providing the cup shaped member 10 fitting and resting on the soft nose 4, an exceedingly firm attachment is had to the projectile. Accordingly the cap will effectually resist all strains that are brought thereon during flight, and will therefore remain true in position, so that all inaccuracies of fire which might occur owing to a displacement of the cap are avoided. In fact, so strong and rigid is this attachment that I am enabled to make the cap longer than is now the practice, and therefore can provide for a greater cavity than is now had in the standard caps in use.

I prefer to fill the cavity of the cap with a high explosive 11, or with a suitable gas generating compound, or chemical, according to the use to which the projectile is to be put. When a high explosive is employed it will be found to be useful in connection with the piercing of armor, as well as the attacking of masonry or earth works in forts, and for other purposes. When masonry, or earth works, are attacked the high explosive 11 may be detonated before or after the shell buries itself, or if a high explosive is not used an ordinary explosive may be employed and set off after the shell has buried itself and thereby act as a mine in addition to the regular explosive charge of the shell which will under ordinary conditions act later and after the shell has penetrated the armor or other resisting surface against which it strikes.

When it is desired to inclose a gas generating compound inside the cap 5, said compound is so arranged that when the fuse 7 acts it will be ignited effectually throughout its body portion and therefore it will not be extinguished upon impact and the destruction of the cap 5. Since said com ound forms no part of this invention, the etails thereofare not here disclosed.

It is obvious that those skilled in the 'art Patented Sept. 14, 1915.

may vary the details of construction, as well provided with. a holding flange, an inverted cup shaped closure secured gas tight to the thecombination of a circular holding flange onthe rear of said cap adapted to fit a groove in the body-of the projectile; a fuse in the forward end of said cap; and an inverted cup shaped closure fitting gas tight 10 the interior rear end of said cap, and provided with a bracing member adapted to I contact with the extreme forward portion of the projectile, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature, in presence of two witnesses.

HENRY H. C. DUNWOODY.

Witnesses:

JOSEPHINE GRANT, NORA YARNALL.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

- Washington, D. G. 

